Feeding and Nutrition :: switching to adult diet

[ravenblackdove]

Hi! At what size are the RES's considered adult, and should be switched to their adult (less protein, more plant matter) diet? is it when they reach sexual maturity, or later? Thanks!

[steve]

Since their growth rate depends on how much they are fed and not time, I'd say after 3.5 or 4" is fine and a good time to switch to adult diets. They won't be sexual mature at that size, but will probably mate anyway.

[ravenblackdove]

OK, so to clarify, the turtle that you would find in pet stores should be on mostly veggies/plants, and not pellets/animal protein?

[steve]

At least in a transition but veggies should be a part of the diet.

[ravenblackdove]

What ratio of protein to plant matter would you suggest for a RES of that size? And at what size should you be radically cutting back on the protein to avoid health issues? Or am I putting too much emphasis on the size/ protein intake? I'm having a hard time getting a definitive answer from online sources as to what specific diet for what size turtle. Sorry for all the questions, and thank you for your answers!!

[steve]

Veggie portions vary. You will need to judge it for yourself... currently my adult female is getting the amount on the right.. sometimes a little less, sometimes more. I'm sure some keepers use a lot more, a few probably use less.

Shell health is a good indicator of diet, especially with younger turtles still growing. Can you post a picture of your turtle and the amount of pellets it gets?

[Jeremiah]

That picture deserves to be pinned--I always run into RES owners who ask for an "exact visual" on how much plant matter to offer.

[steve]

Yea, I just made this because I needed someone to take over for me for a couple of weeks

How does it compare to your feedings?

[Jeremiah]

Yea, I just made this because I needed someone to take over for me for a couple of weeks

How does it compare to your feedings?

I usually just tear off (and wash) the top half of a full leaf every day. My female will get that half, and then I tear off roughly the same amount for my male as your picture shows. He gets bored of it at times, so I have to be careful about how much I offer per feeding. My female, on the other hand, can't get enough of it--if she begs strongly enough after that first half, I will give her a pinch more. They get vegetables every day. I used to do pellets every other day, but I've since begun to offer smaller pellet amounts every day. I think it's more natural.

My turtles warmed up to greens a few months ago, so when they finally started I went a little overboard...Since then, it's amazing how much more energetic they have become.

[ljapa]

My feeding regimen is about 1/3 of her head of pellets daily and lettuce that mostly rotates between red and green leaf with the occasional romaine. I size the lettuce to a bit larger than her shell. Maybe once a week or so, the veggie is duckweed, which is a larger amount than the lettuce.

She'd eat more if I offered it.

Steve, how does your lettuce compare to the size of your turtle?

[steve]

ljapa - I'd estimate that the lettuce (without stem) ranges a little more than half the carapace to about 2/3

Jeremiah - the attitudes of your male and female are similar to mine. My male RES will usually skip lettuce over the winter.

[ravenblackdove]

Hi! Sorry, I haven't responded, been busy. So , I don't have a turtle yet. What I'm trying to do is figure out what I will be feeding it when I do get it. It will be the legal size, so 4" long shell. I just don't want to overdo the protein intake, that is my main concern. I realize that RES's differ from each other as far as growth rate vs age, and that it will be a bit of trial and error as far as diet goes. I just need to get a ballpark idea about how much or little protein I will need to be giving a 4" turtle.

[steve]

Daily... about 1/3 of the amount that would fit into his head, if it were hollow.

[Laurielee]

I rescued my turtle when he was about 3". I've been feeding him pellets, mealworms, crickets, dandelions (once a month on average) and carrots. He's 5" now and is stil sticking to the same diet. I can't get him to eat greens at all. He looks perfect though, well to me . His shell is in great condition and he is very active. I feed him every other day, as per a turtle website I read, and if anyone has any suggestions on how to get him to eat greens or anything else, please let me know. I let a leaf of romaine lettuce or Kale float in his tank all day, then in the morning replace it with a new leaf. He doesn't even nibble.

[steve]

I'd skip mealworms. What methods have you tried to feed him greens?